Two medical professionals from Bugobero Health Centre IV in Manafwa District have been apprehended by the police in connection with the tragic demise of a pregnant woman and her newborn on Friday.
The victim, Billa Nambisawa, lost her life due to excessive bleeding as she couldn’t gather the requested Shs200,000, as reported by authorities.
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In response to this incident, a 44-year-old female doctor and a 37-year-old female midwife, both employed at the health facility where the tragic events unfolded, have been detained.
Rogers Taitika, the Elgon Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed these arrests and stated that the police are now investigating potential cases of negligence and corruption.
According to Taitika, the accusations revolve around allegations of failing to provide adequate healthcare to expectant mothers during antenatal visits and childbirth. The arrests came after the death of a pregnant woman who had reportedly sought delivery services at the facility but tragically passed away along with her baby due to alleged neglect.
Preliminary findings from the police investigations suggest that the deceased was indeed neglected by the medical personnel, leading to her untimely demise.
The suspects were apprehended at the health facility by the District Police Commander, SSP Najib Waiswa, and subsequently placed in detention at Manafwa Central Police station after providing their statements.
The charges against the two individuals include negligence leading to death, an offense that carries a potential 10-year sentence upon conviction under Ugandan law.
Furthermore, a detective at Manafwa Central Police station, requesting anonymity due to media restrictions, revealed that a postmortem examination indicated that the woman’s death resulted from her inability to deliver the baby, which led to a ruptured uterus.
As of the latest information available, the case file has been forwarded to the resident state attorney for legal counsel.
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